Aphrodisiac-inspired menu heats up Café 225

Last year Cafe 225 spiced up Valentine's Day with an aphrodisiac menu. Attendees of this years SpringFest can learn a few tips with cooking demonstrations from Chef Karl Merten, owner of Café 225.(Photo: Café 225)

Downtown Visalia's Café 225 is playing cupid this Valentine's Day, and their arrow is aiming to do much more than just arouse interest from potential couples who are looking for the right spot to spend a romantic evening.

That's because this year the restaurant is stripping down its menu to offer a rather unique spread — one that's inspired by aphrodisiac ingredients.

While any of the hot dishes offered up by Café 225 on any evening could make the average patron swoon, the Valentine's Day entrees are turning up the heat to make them blush as well.

"We're going to have some very sexy things going on," said Chef Nicole Guzman of the exclusive one-night menu that seeks to "stimulate you in ways that's kind of hard to say without feeling dirty."

Spare yourself any guilt though in knowing that the use of ingredients believed to hold aphrodisiac qualities that increase libido, or enhance sexual desire, date back as far to the 8th or 6th Centuries BC.

The name itself, after all, was born from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.

While the actual effectiveness of some substances is merely an old wives' tale, others have some scientific evidence to back them.

Take for example Café 225's starter offering of "oysters on the half shell" with spicy avocado serrano cream and house cocktail sauce.

Mollusks have been recognized across the globe as a notorious aphrodisiac. In addition, oysters are also known to be rich in amino acids that trigger increased levels of sex hormones.

Ancient Aztecs recognized the cocoa bean as a potent love potion. As such, they would probably be well-pleased by the "Chocolate Menage a' Trois" — appropriately sized for two — that's offered for dessert.

Of course, couples don't have to venture too far from their comfort zones to find a dinner selection that rouses the appetite, as well as peels away any inhibitions.

"We want to please everyone," Guzman said.

The option of a 24oz. t-bone steak for two served with twice-baked potato, grilled asparagus spears, and a roasted mushroom bordelaise, is likely to do just that.

For those looking to recreate "Lady and the Tramp," rather than, say, "Fifty Shades of Grey," can have their lips meet over the roasted red pepper alfredo with broccoli, served with marinated chicken breast and herbed goat cheese wrapped in Filo Dough.

"Some people like taking the same route every time," Guzman says of the varying tastes in Tulare County, "but you never know. If you take a different route you might find a dollar on the street. It just might make you change your perspective."

Thankfully, couples won't have to find too many of those dollars to afford this romantic evening.

At $40 per person, "you get a lot of bang for your buck," Guzman said.

Those looking to let their hair down can also choose the wine pairing dinner option priced at $100 for two.

Although, fair warning: As an aphrodisiac for some, it could lead to a Shakespearian tragedy in the bedroom, seeing that Shakespeare himself once quipped that alcohol "provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance."

That of course is up to individual tastes, and no matter what those tastes may be, the central goal of the evening is to bring couples together.

"Some are just falling in love," Guzman says of the clientele that ranges from young to old. "Others have a bit more experience."

As for those who need a little healing in the manner of Marvin Gaye?

"Who knows, maybe it will help some to go home and work it out."

As for Chef Guzman, her valentine is the act of cooking itself.

"It's an intimate exchange," she said. "The first bite is like the first kiss. You have to wait to see what reaction you're going to get."

Judging from what she has cooking already, Café 225 is determined to stimulate a reaction that's bound to be pleasurable.